2011's Unofficial Half-Year Awards: The Fighters

The Highly Unofficial Half-Year awards season concludes with the top fighters of 2011 thus far... This is it. The Unofficial Half-Year Awards season concludes today with the fighters who have put their best foot forward thus far in 2011. As a bit of a spoiler here, let’s just say that you won’t be surprised with the man on top of the list.

5 – Mark Munoz
Following his first round knockout loss at light heavyweight against Matt Hamill in 2009, there were many question marks surrounding Mark Munoz and whether he would be able to fully make the transition from wrestler to MMA fighter. He answered each and every question, and at middleweight, he has become a legit contender, a fact borne out by a three fight winning streak that includes 2011 wins over CB Dollaway and Demian Maia. “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” is the real deal, and he’s getting better with each fight.

4 – Melvin Guillard
The maturation process of Melvin Guillard is complete. Long seen as a world-class talent who had yet to put it all together, “The Young Assassin” has finally hit his stride, and in 2011 he has emerged as a legitimate threat to Frankie Edgar’s lightweight title. Winner of five in a row, including knockouts this year of Evan Dunham and Shane Roller, Guillard is a scary young man in the Octagon, and if you want to say anything about that, ‘it’s about time’ seems to be the correct phrase to use.

3 – Clay Guida
Mixed martial arts’ undisputed wildman, Clay Guida lives that image up proudly, but what sometimes gets lost underneath all the hair and flailing fists is that “The Carpenter” is also one of the smartest fighters in the lightweight division, as evidenced by his 2011 wins over Takanori Gomi and Anthony Pettis. Using bizarre movement against Gomi, Guida baffled his foe until he was able to choke him out in the second round. Against Pettis, he kept things simple with a ground and pound strategy that left the dynamic former WEC champion unable to escape. Yet no matter how he got to the finish, the end result was the same – a win and a move one step closer to a world title shot.

2 – Brian Stann
Sure, Brian Stann’s 2010 debut at middleweight against Mike Massenzio was exciting and successful and all that good stuff, but what would happen when the former WEC light heavyweight champion took on a contender at 185 pounds, especially one with KO power like Chris Leben. Well, the US Marine Corps veteran knocked him out in 3:37 at UFC 125 in January. Encore? A second round finish at UFC 130 of Jorge Santiago, who was returning to the Octagon after winning 11 of 12 bouts. Next up is Chael Sonnen, and if the “All-American” gets past the former middleweight title challenger, is there any more deserving contender for a shot at the crown?

1 – Jon Jones
Surprise, surprise. Look who we found here at the top of the list. Only the man who spoiled Ryan Bader’s unbeaten record in February, helped foil a robbery in March, and then later that night stopped Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in three rounds to win the UFC light heavyweight title. If that’s not a full half-year, what is? It’s almost as if destiny sped up for New York’s Jon Jones, but the dynamic young champion seems to be handling life on top just fine. Next up for Jonny Bones? Former champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

Honorable Mention – Anderson Silva, Demetrious Johnson, Kyle Kingsbury, Dennis Siver, Brian Ebersole, Jim Miller, Matt Mitrione, Georges St-Pierre, Jose Aldo, Jake Ellenberger, Dominick Cruz, Junior dos Santos, Charlie Brenneman

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2011's Unofficial Half-Year Awards: The Submissions

The Highly Unofficial Half-Year awards continue with the top submissions of 2011 thus far... 2011 has already seen its share of memorable submission wins, from those that dazzled with technical excellence to ones that pulled victory from the jaws of defeat. Here are five of the best thus far.

5 – Lentz pulls off late comeback
Unbeaten in a UFC career that began seven fights ago, in 2009, Minnesota’s Nik Lentz lives up to the old adage “refuse to lose.” Case in point, his March battle with fellow wrestler Waylon Lowe, which wasn’t going so well for him during the first 10 minutes. Entering the third and final round, Lentz was trailing on the scorecards, and while he willingly stood and traded blows with Lowe, nothing seemed to be making a dent in his opponent’s chin. Then came Plan B, and as Lowe looked for yet another takedown, Lentz found his neck and submitted him via guillotine choke for one of the most stirring comebacks of the year thus far. The submission wasn’t bad either. WATCH FIGHT REPLAY

4 – Weidman powers his way to win over Bongfeldt
After aggravating a knee injury during his UFC 131 bout with Jesse Bongfeldt, Chris Weidman might have panicked, given that it was only his sixth professional MMA fight. But instead, the New Yorker stayed calm, waited for his moment, and even though it came with just seconds remaining in the first round, when he was able to lock in a standing guillotine choke on his opponent, he went all in to finish, and he did, getting Bongfeldt to tap out at the 4:54 mark of the round. WATCH FIGHT REPLAY

3 – Lauzon is one nasty finisher
A lot of fighters like to brag about their submission skills before a bout, saying “yeah, I’m gonna take his arm home with me.” Well, that doesn’t really happen now, does it? Joe Lauzon didn’t say such things before his June bout with Curt Warburton, but he almost pulled it off (pardon the pun) with a vicious kimura that followed a knockdown that you thought the New Englander was going to use to finish the fight with strikes. Instead, he yanked at Warburton’s arm and got the tap out with one of the most painful looking kimuras we’ve seen in a while. That Lauzon, he isn’t getting paid for overtime; he’s a finisher. WATCH FIGHT REPLAY

2 – Garza takes to the air to submit Jabouin
The odds of Pablo Garza topping his highlight reel knockout of Fredson Paixao in December of last year against Canada’s Yves Jabouin in April were slim and none. That’s how devastating the finish was. So what did the North Dakota product do for an encore? Only a flying triangle that thrilled the over 55,000 fans in Toronto’s Rogers Centre and those watching at home. And while Garza didn’t initially finish the bout when the two hit the mat, he did so seconds later, garnering him an A for effort and for the eventual tap out by Jabouin at 4:31 of the first round. WATCH UFC 129 REPLAY

1 – “The Korean Zombie” makes submission history
Before Chan Sung Jung’s March rematch with Leonard Garcia, you might have assumed that the fight game of “The Korean Zombie” started and finished with his ability to brawl. Maybe Garcia, who defeated Jung in their classic 2010 bout, figured the same thing. He might have even thought that he was safe as the seconds wound down in round two in Louisville. But that’s when Jung struck with Eddie Bravo’s “Twister,” a painful maneuver that had never finished a fight in the UFC – well, up until Garcia’s tap out at 4:59 of the second round. WATCH UFC FIGHT NIGHT LIVE REPLAY

Honorable Mention – Clay Guida-Takanori Gomi, Yves Edwards-Cody McKenzie, Daniel Roberts-Greg Soto, DaMarques Johnson-Mike Guymon, Jon Jones-Ryan Bader, Kyle Noke-Chris Camozzi, Brian Bowles-Damacio Page, Rousimar Palhares-Dave Branch, Gleison Tibau-Rafaello Oliveira, Tito Ortiz-Ryan Bader

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2011's Unofficial Half-Year Awards: The Knockouts

The Highly Unofficial Half-Year awards continue with the top knockouts of 2011 thus far... With 40 percent of the top five knockouts of 2011 thus far attributed to his teachings, we may have to rename these the Steven Seagals, but Canada is well represented as well, with their own 40 percent, leaving the last 20 percent of pure power to come straight from Paris, France.

5 – Machida spoils Couture’s final bout
UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture knew his final mixed martial arts bout wasn’t going to be an easy one in the always hard to decipher Lyoto Machida, but that’s why he took it. No gimmes for “The Natural,” and that’s always been one of the reasons why fans love him. But if former light heavyweight champion Machida continues to finish fights in dynamic style like he did at UFC 129, with a jumping front kick he claimed action film star Steven Seagal showed him, there will be plenty of fans lining up to see the next bout featuring “The Dragon.” WATCH UFC 129 REPLAY

4 – Seagal leads Silva to win over Belfort
By the time Lyoto Machida gave Steven Seagal credit for his finish of Randy Couture, fans began to take such talk from Brazil’s finest seriously, but when UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva did it for the first time, everyone was shocked. But no matter who taught “The Spider” the front kick to the face that ended Vitor Belfort’s night at UFC 126 in February, the bottom line is that the devastating shot became the strike du jour for athletes throughout the sport, who all hoped to match the surprisingly quick finish turned in by MMA’s pound for pound king. WATCH UFC 126 REPLAY

3 – Makdessi wows home crowd with KO of Watson
In his UFC debut against Pat Audinwood last December, John Makdessi showed a wide array of striking techniques learned during his years an unbeaten kickboxer. His April bout against The Ultimate Fighter alumnus Kyle Watson continued on that same path, but when he saw an opening to be even more spectacular in the third round, he boldly took it, faking a right kick before stepping through and unleashing a spinning left back fist that landed flush on Watson’s face and knocked him out immediately. It’s one of those knockouts that you can replay repeatedly and it just never gets old.
WATCH UFC 129 REPLAY

2 – Stout delivers one punch stunner
When newer fans of the sport look at Yves Edwards, they probably saw a veteran of the sport trying to make another run at glory. And while that was true, hardcore fans remembered Edwards as a man seen as a Top Five or higher lightweight for much of his career, and one who was still dangerous entering his June clash with Sam Stout. So his chilling knockout defeat at the hands of the Canadian wasn’t an easy one to watch, but you have to give it to Ontario’s “Hands of Stone,” who picked up his first KO victory since 2007 in the most emphatic fashion possible, a crushing left hand to the head that ended the bout as soon as it landed. WATCH UFC 131 REPLAY 

1 – Kongo scores comeback of the year against Barry
Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry. Given all the disappointments in recent years when striker met striker but instead turned it into a wrestling match, expectations were that Kongo would take Barry down in their June bout or that “HD” would even attempt to show off his own growing ground game against the Frenchman. But thankfully, the two decided to live up to their striking reputations, and what followed was a tense trading of thudding leg kicks until all hell broke loose when Barry sent Kongo to the canvas twice, both times appearing to be seconds away from a stoppage victory. But just when all seemed to be lost for Kongo, he got to his feet, planted them, and then ripped off two right hands. The first one stunned Barry, the second put him on his back, and when referee Dan Miragliotta halted the bout, Kongo had just delivered the most spectacular comeback win since Scott Smith finished Pete Sell in 2006. It was a pretty sweet KO for Kongo as well, the best of the year thus far. WATCH UFC LIVE REPLAY

Honorable Mention - Guillard-Dunham, Kingsbury-Romero, Hunt-Tuchscherer, Roller-Tavares, Schaub-Cro Cop, Browne-Struve, Roop-Grispi, Ferguson-Nijem, Mitrione-Morecraft, Dos Anjos-Sotiropoulos, Leben-Silva, Guillard-Roller, Condit-Kim

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2011's Unofficial Half-Year Awards: The Fights

The Highly Unofficial Half-Year awards continue with the top fights of 2011 thus far... We’ve almost reached the end of the 2011 unofficial half-year awards season, and after counting down the upsets, knockouts, and submissions, it’s time to pick the fights that defined the first half of the year and made you say ‘this is why I’m a mixed martial arts fan.’

5 – Barboza and Njokuani show the brutal beauty of Muay Thai
It says something about Anthony Njokuani’s character that after watching Edson Barboza finish Mike Lullo with leg kicks that he would step up to the plate and offer himself up for the same type of punishment. But hey, that’s what a real Muay Thai fighter would do against one of his peers, and his willingness to do so at UFC 128 in March led to one of the purest displays of the Art of Eight Limbs that you will ever see in the Octagon. For striking aficionados, this bout, won by Barboza via close, but unanimous, decision, was gold. WATCH FIGHT REPLAY

4 – Kingsbury and Maldonado gut one out
Former college football player Kyle Kingsbury wasn’t the most highly-touted prospect to emerge from the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter, but quietly and steadily, “KingsBu” began to make his mark, most notably with a Fight of the Night win over Jared Hamman and a 21 second destruction of Ricardo Romero. But against Brazil’s Fabio Maldonado, an undefeated pro boxer, Kingsbury showed not only his growing skill set, but his heart, as he and Maldonado engaged in one of those grueling, blood and spit flying brawls that make you want to stand up and cheer when it’s all over. Kingsbury won the bout via unanimous decision, and while you would love to see the light heavyweights do it again, you get the impression that after their 15 minute blood and guts scrap, they’ll want a little break from each other for the moment. WATCH TUF 13 FINALE REPLAY (FREE IN US) (INTL)

3 – Sanchez ekes out classic with Kampmann
In talking to one of Diego Sanchez’ welterweight peers earlier this year, he said that the fearless Albuquerque warrior has engaged in so many wars that his “cuts are starting to have conversations with each other.” This was never more evident than in Sanchez’ March battle with pinpoint striker Martin Kampmann, who opened his opponent’s face up by the middle of the second round and appeared to be on his way to a possible stoppage victory. But Sanchez refused to back down, and his rapid fire flurries and relentless attack not only inflicted damage on his opponent as well, but allowed him to eke out an exciting unanimous decision victory in a bout that proved why fans never get disappointed when “The Dream” takes to the Octagon. UFC President Dana White agreed, giving $160,000 bonus to both fighters. WATCH UFC ON VERSUS REPLAY

2 – Cruz and Faber show why fans love the bantams
The grudge between bantamweight stars Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber was real, so before their UFC 132 main event earlier this month, there was a fear that the fighters wanted so badly not to lose to their rival that they would be too cautious. Not a chance. Instead, Cruz and Faber fired off all their tricks at one another, fought at the insanely high pace 135-pounders are known for, and gave the fans a 25 minute fight to remember that Cruz won by unanimous decision. In the process, he evened the score with the only man to ever beat him, and also set the stage for what fans hope will be a third bout. WATCH UFC 132 REPLAY

1 – Edgar and Maynard set high standard for 2011 on New Year’s Day
Speaking of third bouts, fight fans were guaranteed another match between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and number one contender Gray Maynard after a UFC 125 draw in January that nearly ended in the first round when “The Bully” rocked and dropped the champ and nearly finished him. But Edgar remarkably made it out of the opening frame and began the task of not just surviving, but getting back on track to retain his title. And he did just that, stunning the Las Vegas crowd with a show of resilience that cemented his place on top of the 155-pound weight class. And kudos go to Maynard as well, who battled past a gas tank depleted by his frenzied first round attack to continue to go after Edgar in a quest to repeat his first win over “The Answer” and take home the championship belt. In the end, the two fighters were disappointed by the five round draw verdict, but no one who saw that 25 minute bout would ever say that they felt the same way. WATCH UFC 125 REPLAY WATCH ROUND ONE FREE

Honorable Mention – Yves Edwards-Cody McKenzie, Donald Cerrone-Paul Kelly,
Brian Ebersole-Chris Lytle, Michael Bisping-Jorge Rivera, Jon Jones-Mauricio Rua, Michael McDonald-Edwin Figueroa, Jose Aldo-Mark Hominick, Joey Beltran-Aaron Rosa, Dave Herman-John Olav Einemo, Mark Munoz-Demian Maia, Nik Lentz-Charles Oliveira, Cheick Kongo-Pat Barry

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2011's Unofficial Half-Year Awards: The Newcomers

The Highly Unofficial Half-Year awards season begins with the top newcomers of 2011 thus far... The continuing migration of the WEC’s top guns into the UFC in 2011 has not only added to the excitement level in the Octagon, but it has produced four of the top six newcomers that kick off our first installment of the highly unofficial Half-Year awards season.

5 (tie) – Brian Ebersole
It’s a little odd to call a veteran of 63 pro fights a newcomer, but Brian Ebersole was new to UFC fans when he made his organizational debut in February against Chris Lytle. But by the time the UFC 127 bout was over, his unorthodox, yet entertaining style had made an indelible impression, and after 15 minutes, he had scored an upset victory over “Lights Out” and even earned a Fight of the Night bonus. Plus, at 30, the US native and Australia resident may just be entering his fighting prime, making the future an interesting one for the man with the most creative chest hair in MMA.

5 (tie) – Jose Aldo
Jose Aldo is another example of a fighter who is only a newcomer in technical terms, considering that the UFC featherweight champion was a WEC champion at 145 pounds and a member of the mythical pound-for-pound club. And while he was in his usual stellar form in a hard-fought five round win over Mark Hominick at UFC 129 in April, he only sits at number four here because, like Ebersole, he has only competed once in 2011. In the past, that’s usually been a cause to not be included on the list, but his performance and Ebersole’s were so good that it would be a crime not to give them their props.

4 – Dustin Poirier
Anyone who watched Dustin Poirier’s final WEC fight, a 53 second blitz of Zack Micklewright last November, knew that the Louisiana kid was a certified blue chip prospect. But raise your hand if you thought that he would blow through fellow phenom Josh Grispi at UFC 125 in January. Thought so. But that’s just what he did, scoring a dominant three round decision win in a bout that was as one-sided as you can get without a knockout being scored. In June, “The Diamond” made it two in a row in the Octagon with a decision victory over highly-regarded Brit Jason Young, and while Poirier is still raw, he’s a fighter to watch.

3 – Chris Weidman
Long Island, New York’s Chris Weidman has been saddled with the “Next Big Thing” tag from the time he turned pro in 2009, but even his staunchest supporters had to be a little concerned when he accepted a UFC fight against veteran Alessio Sakara on two weeks’ notice (and with injured ribs) in March. But Weidman proved that the high expectations for him were justified as he scored a clear-cut decision win over “Legionarius” in Louisville. Next up was a June showdown against Jesse Bongfeldt, and he delivered his first UFC finish, submitting the Canadian with six seconds left in the first round. If he keeps this up, he may become the second member of the Serra-Longo fight team to wear UFC gold.

2 – Michael McDonald
Currently the youngest fighter in the UFC, 20-year old Michael McDonald may eventually turn into the best 135-pounder in the organization if he keeps on the track he’s currently on. Another veteran of the WEC, who needed only 2:42 to finish Clint Godfrey in his lone fight there, McDonald debuted in the Octagon in March with a Fight of the Night decision win over Edwin Figueroa that was notable for McDonald’s offensive variety and Figueroa’s resilience after nearly being finished numerous times during the bout. In May, McDonald won his second UFC bout, as he decisioned tough Chris Cariaso, and with his youthful energy, aggressive style, and well-rounded skills, his potential is almost limitless.

1 – Demetrious Johnson
A five-foot-three ball of speed and energy, Demetrious Johnson has may have come out of nowhere in 2011 to defeat world-class bantamweights Kid Yamamoto and Miguel Angel Torres, but considering that he has learned his craft under the wizard, Matt Hume, it’s no surprise that he arrived on the world stage ready to fight. Three WEC fights in which he defeated Damacio Page and Nick Pace and lost a close decision to Brad Pickett prepared him for life under the bright lights, and when he stepped into the Octagon for the first time in February against Yamamoto, he looked like an old pro in pounding out a three round decision win. His victory over former WEC 135-pound boss Torres was a lot closer, but in the end, the 24-year old Johnson, who will only get better in the future, showed that he had the right stuff to battle with anyone in the division.

Honorable Mention – Donald Cerrone, Dave Herman, Nick Ring, Anthony Njokuani, Scott Jorgensen, Tony Ferguson, Ben Henderson, Brian Bowles, Jeff Hougland, Renan Barao, Ricardo Lamas, Joseph Benavidez, Chad Mendes, Erik Koch, Danny Castillo, Javier Vazquez, Mackens Semerzier, Chan Sung Jung

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2011's Unofficial Half-Year Awards: The Upsets

The Highly Unofficial Half-Year awards continue with the biggest upsets of 2011 thus far... One of the great things about mixed martial arts at the UFC level is that on any given night, an underdog can perform magic and topple the hopes of a favorite. Here are the top upsets of 2011 thus far.

5 – “Mighty Mouse” outlasts former champ Torres WATCH FIGHT REPLAY
People forget that before his loss to Brian Bowles, Miguel Angel Torres was seen as a significant threat to Anderson Silva’s hold on the mythical pound-for-pound title. A WEC bantamweight champion with out of this world submission skills and a willingness (some might say eagerness) to scrap while standing, Torres was riding high until he lost his belt and then dropped a subsequent bout to Joseph Benavidez. But with comeback wins over Charlie Valencia and Antonio Banuelos, he looked to be on his way back. But bantamweight up and comer Demetrious Johnson stopped Torres’ winning streak at UFC 130 with a wrestling-based gameplan that put him in the dominant top position for much of the bout. Yes, Torres fought well and attempted submissions from the bottom, but when the close verdict was rendered, it was no surprise that it went in favor of “Mighty Mouse.”

4 – Siver puts an end to Sotiropoulos’ immediate title plans WATCH UFC 127 REPLAY
Entering their UFC 127 bout in February, Dennis Siver was a legit contender with a nice two fight winning streak, but Aussie hero George Sotiropoulos had an even nicer eight fight hot streak, he was fighting at home, and he seemingly had the perfect style to defeat the Germany product. But after leaving Sotiropoulos in the dust in the first round, Siver maintained his fast start, didn’t let the bout stray to the mat where he could get submitted, and went on to pull off the three round unanimous decision win. It was a boost for Siver, who defeated Matt Wiman last Saturday in Las Vegas, and a crushing blow for Sotiropoulos, who suffered his second consecutive defeat on the same card against Rafael dos Anjos.

3 – Poirier is no stepping stone for Grispi WATCH FIGHT REPLAY
On January 1, 2011, Josh Grispi was supposed to be fighting in the first 145-pound title fight in UFC history against champion Jose Aldo. Aldo got injured and was forced to pull out of the bout. Grispi got to face a Louisiana buzzsaw named Dustin Poirier, and in 15 minutes he was issued his first loss in four years. That’s not to say that Poirier had come out of nowhere, but consider that the last four names on Grispi’s victims list were Mark Hominick, Micah Miller, Jens Pulver, and LC Davis. And he finished all four in the first round. So for Poirier to come into the Octagon that night and not only win, but steamroll Grispi sent shockwaves through the featherweight division.

2 – Late notice no problem for Brenneman WATCH UFC LIVE REPLAY
Hollidaysburg’s Charlie Brenneman wanted nothing more than to fight in his home state of Pennsylvania on June 26th’s UFC Live card in Pittsburgh, but though there were occasional rays of light, it just didn’t look like it was going to happen. First, he wasn’t even scheduled to fight, but then Matt Riddle was forced out of his bout with TJ Grant and Brenneman was called to fill in. Next, Grant went down with an illness and withdrew, leaving Brenneman without a fight on such short notice. But amazingly, on the day of the weigh-in, Nate Marquardt wasn’t medically cleared to fight and Brenneman was asked to fill in against Rick Story. He made weight, stepped into the Octagon, and fought 15 minutes with his fans cheering him on. When the bout was over, he had snapped Story’s six fight winning streak and made the MMA version of a Rocky story.

1 – Ortiz proves that there’s still life in the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” WATCH UFC 132 REPLAY
If you picked 36-year old Tito Ortiz to defeat Ryan Bader last Saturday night at UFC 132, you probably did so just for sentimental reasons. Why? Because the former light heavyweight champion had shown nothing in his previous five fights (a 0-4-1 stretch) that would make you think he could turn the tide against young powerhouse Bader. Yes, Ortiz was dealing with injuries during his losing streak and even then he had brief glimpses of his old form, but in a 15 minute scrap with an opponent who could very well send him to join Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture in retirement, what would he do to win. Well, he did it by shocking Bader with a flush punch to the jaw and then finishing matters with a guillotine choke that ignited the MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd and resurrected Ortiz’ career. At a time when you usually bow your head and dread the day that an aging superstar steps into the Octagon and doesn’t have it anymore, Ortiz came alive and proved that the great ones always have a great fight left in them. Now we’ll see if there’s more to come.

Honorable Mention – Diego Nunes-Mike Brown, Waylon Lowe-Willamy Freire, Demetrious Johnson-Kid Yamamoto, Brian Ebersole-Chris Lytle, Danny Castillo-Joe Stevenson, Brian Stann-Jorge Santiago, Brian Stann-Chris Leben, Rick Story-Thiago Alves, George Roop-Josh Grispi

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